Dead languages, how important are they? - Page 3

MikeL · 11-19-2007, 12:54 AM

After Latin it is Greek that has had the most influence on the vocabulary of modern European languages. Much of the scientific and technical terminology used today comes from Greek:

thermometer / thermomètre / termometro
physics / physique / fisica
psychology / pschologie / psicologia
biology / biologie / biologia
and almost every other -ology!

Modern Greek is closer to ancient Greek than French or Spanish or Italian is to Latin. The grammar is simpler and the pronunciation has changed considerably but many of the words are the same or almost the same.

abu_dana · 11-21-2007, 04:15 PM

Sanskrit is another language that can be classified as dead, but not quite with similar impact being felt across the region South Asia, Indochina on languages of these nations?

Chinese thanks to its writing system that doesn't reflect sounds just continued its life from the ancient times to present. So, it never became dead.

So, may be, acoustically modern day standard Chines is different from the ancient 4000 years ago Chinese. Sounds differently, but when you look at writing it's pretty much same.

Lina · 11-21-2007, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abu_dana

Chinese thanks to its writing system that doesn't reflect sounds just continued its life from the ancient times to present. So, it never became dead.

Actually, there was one language in Western China which "died" : Tokharian ; it was spoken until the IVth century B.C.

But I don't think it was an ancient form of Chinese, since it belongs to the Indo-European group.

abu_dana · 11-22-2007, 03:25 PM

Basque language and race is close to extinction - it doesn't even have an independent statehood. I think it's being oppressed by so-called Indo-Europeans.

Strangely enough Europe to me is so uniform only Finns, Hungarians, Estonians, and Basques live in quite small numbers compared to their strikingly different surroundings (I don't mean immigrant populations I mean indigenous people).

Manchu people in China are also driven to extinction almost. It's true, so many people are turning Chinese.

vessi · 11-24-2007, 03:20 PM

Hi Abu dana! Have you heard about a language Esperanto? I've had to learn a little this language and it sounds disgusting. It is as you told a dead language.

Lina · 11-25-2007, 08:03 PM

It is not a dead language, but an artificial language, that's different : to die, one must have lived.

platypus · 11-27-2007, 03:32 PM

I think Latin is total unnecessary today. It is right some languages have a few Latin words but you still have to learn french, spanish extra etc. and to be honest: if you can speak english and french and may a little bit of spanish than you see the similarities - without speaking Latin. So Latin is not really necessary, it's just necessary for science but that's it. So I never would like to learn Latin, I would start immediately with spanish - if I would start Latin also it would take longer.

11-19-2007, 12:54 AM	#15 (permalink)
MikeL International Forum Fan Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Auckland New Zealand Posts: 591 MikeL came out of the blue	After Latin it is Greek that has had the most influence on the vocabulary of modern European languages. Much of the scientific and technical terminology used today comes from Greek: thermometer / thermomètre / termometro physics / physique / fisica psychology / pschologie / psicologia biology / biologie / biologia and almost every other -ology! Modern Greek is closer to ancient Greek than French or Spanish or Italian is to Latin. The grammar is simpler and the pronunciation has changed considerably but many of the words are the same or almost the same.
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11-21-2007, 04:15 PM	#16 (permalink)
abu_dana International Forum Fan Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Qazaqstan Posts: 290 abu_dana is an unknown character at this point	Sanskrit is another language that can be classified as dead, but not quite with similar impact being felt across the region South Asia, Indochina on languages of these nations? Chinese thanks to its writing system that doesn't reflect sounds just continued its life from the ancient times to present. So, it never became dead. So, may be, acoustically modern day standard Chines is different from the ancient 4000 years ago Chinese. Sounds differently, but when you look at writing it's pretty much same. __________________ OMNIGLOT; ANCIENT SCRIPTS
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11-22-2007, 03:25 PM	#18 (permalink)
abu_dana International Forum Fan Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Qazaqstan Posts: 290 abu_dana is an unknown character at this point	Basque language and race is close to extinction - it doesn't even have an independent statehood. I think it's being oppressed by so-called Indo-Europeans. Strangely enough Europe to me is so uniform only Finns, Hungarians, Estonians, and Basques live in quite small numbers compared to their strikingly different surroundings (I don't mean immigrant populations I mean indigenous people). Manchu people in China are also driven to extinction almost. It's true, so many people are turning Chinese. __________________ OMNIGLOT; ANCIENT SCRIPTS Last edited by abu_dana; 11-22-2007 at 04:32 PM.
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11-24-2007, 03:20 PM	#19 (permalink)
vessi Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sofia Posts: 7 vessi is an unknown character at this point	Hi Abu dana! Have you heard about a language Esperanto? I've had to learn a little this language and it sounds disgusting. It is as you told a dead language.
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11-25-2007, 08:03 PM	#20 (permalink)
Lina Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: France Posts: 2,238 Blog Entries: 15 Lina is a glorious beacon of light Lina is a glorious beacon of light	It is not a dead language, but an artificial language, that's different : to die, one must have lived. __________________ Khâgneux, venez rencontrer Dieu, Vara et les autres ! Arrêt sur images en ligne Un truc qui ne sert à rien.
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11-27-2007, 03:32 PM	#21 (permalink)
platypus Growing Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 22 platypus is an unknown character at this point	I think Latin is total unnecessary today. It is right some languages have a few Latin words but you still have to learn french, spanish extra etc. and to be honest: if you can speak english and french and may a little bit of spanish than you see the similarities - without speaking Latin. So Latin is not really necessary, it's just necessary for science but that's it. So I never would like to learn Latin, I would start immediately with spanish - if I would start Latin also it would take longer. __________________ Je parle français comme une vache espagnole
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